31 Aug 2020
It has been a busy term so far in the PEACS with some exciting programs under way which were delayed due to COVID-19:
Personalised Education Plan (PEP)
It has been great to connect with parents and carers to set goals and develop an action plan for the learning of Year 7 and 8 students in the Learning Support classes.
Literacy programs
The MacqLit (Macquarie Literacy Program) is an intensive intervention to address literacy development. This is now well under way with enthusiastic Year 8 students already showing progress with their reading. The program runs with the Learning and Support Teachers three times a week and focuses on phonological awareness and decoding skills. These skills are needed to be able to accurately and fluently read a variety of texts. This program will broaden to include identified Year 9 students later in the term.
Check-in Literacy is an initiative we developed and started in Term 2. Students receive individualised daily literacy activities led by a School Learning Support Officer. Students are really enjoying checking in with the SLSO in the morning and working on their reading, sight words and sounds.
Numeracy program
The QuickSmart Numeracy program will commence soon. This focuses on mathematics language, automaticity, problem solving skills, number facts and calculations and will run with identified Year 8 students three times per week. The students involved will have received a pack of information and consent notes which need to be returned as soon as possible.
Numeracy and Reading Assessment for Year 9 students
We are currently taking part in an opportunity offered by the Department of Education for Year 9 students to complete online assessments. These two tests supplement our internal practices to identify how students are performing in literacy and numeracy.
Our team
As we write, it is a special week for recognising the work of our school administration staff, which is a great reason to put on record our gratitude for the efforts of our wonderful SLSO’s Bec Attewell, Paige Garred and Alan Tull in supporting our teachers and students.
We have welcomed new member of staff Kobie Binkins and the return of Alison Pollock to the team of Learning and Support Teachers.